Portret van een onbekende jonge man c. 1880 - 1886

This photograph, made by Albert Greiner, captures an unknown young man. Encapsulated in an oval frame, the portrait evokes a sense of timelessness, almost as if it were plucked from the depths of memory itself. Consider the framing. The oval, a shape suggestive of eggs and seeds, can be traced back to ancient Roman portraiture, symbolizing life, rebirth, and continuity. This shape reappears throughout history, notably in Renaissance art, adorning family crests and religious icons, subtly reinforcing ideas of lineage and enduring legacy. Yet, it also has roots in the pre-Christian era, in mourning rituals and representations of the afterlife. Here, the very shape of the frame hints at a longing for permanence. In a way, this image speaks to our primal desire to transcend the confines of mortality. A visual echo resonating through the corridors of time.